Father-in-law 07

Since that rift appeared, Chen Cai never thought to mend it. He carried on as before, but he failed to notice the resentful look in his son's eyes when he looked at him. Fang Yunyun, however, did notice, but whenever she mentioned it, Chen Cai would laugh it off, saying she was overthinking.

"Kids don't remember things for that long," he would say. "Besides, we can't praise him for everything, right? He needs some setbacks to grow." He habitually justified his behavior with seemingly reasonable excuses.

On the day he and his friends had planned to watch the sunrise, Chen Xiaoqun threw a tantrum, insisting on going along. Chen Cai firmly refused. Watching his parents leave, Chen Xiaoqun furiously smashed his toys. Turning around, he saw Fang Zhiyi leaning against the wall, watching him with a faint, knowing smile. Feeling wronged, Chen Xiaoqun said, "They went out without me."

Fang Zhiyi patted his head. "So what if they didn't take you? You're a big boy now, aren't you?" As he spoke, he magically produced an enormous lollipop, making Chen Xiaoqun's eyes go wide.

The next day, Chen Xiaoqun was late again. The reason was that Fang Yunyun, who had gone to see the sunrise, couldn't get up, and Fang Zhiyi had vanished early as usual.

Fang Yunyun was still groggy when she answered the school's call. The teacher on the other end sounded exasperated. "Xiaoqun's mother, Xiaoqun is constantly late, doesn't complete his homework, sleeps in class, and disrupts the lessons. If this continues, he's going to be ruined!"

Fang Yunyun flew into a rage. "That's my business! I know how to raise my own son! It's none of your concern!"

"Xiaoqun's mother! Education requires a joint effort from both teachers and parents. For the child's sake, you can't be like this..."

Chen Cai, also woken by the noise, snatched the phone. "Hello, teacher. Education? No one understands education better than I do. What you're teaching now is just ABCs, isn't it? His mother and I are both well-educated; we can teach him too. In short, from now on, don't be so strict with this child. We'll take responsibility ourselves, okay?"

The teacher was silent for a long moment. She knew Chen Xiaoqun used to be looked after by his grandfather, and the child was doing alright back then. But recently, the situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse. Wanting to be responsible, she had made the call. She had first listened to Fang Zhiyi complain at length before she understood the child was now being raised by his parents, which was why she called.

She never expected the parents to have such an attitude!

It was almost noon by the time Chen Xiaoqun finally sauntered into school. Seeing the astonished looks from his classmates, he couldn't help feeling a sense of pride. This feeling of being the center of attention was good.

Fang Yunyun wanted to ask Fang Zhiyi to resume picking up and dropping off the child, but Fang Zhiyi seemed very busy, always hanging up after just a few words on the phone. This infuriated her, but since Fang Zhiyi was her father, she couldn't directly hold him accountable.

Soon, Chen Xiaoqun got into trouble again.

This time, he bullied a classmate, even resorting to violence. Fortunately, the teacher intervened. The teacher immediately summoned his parents. Fang Yunyun, busy with work and trying to be more careful lately because her frequent lateness had drawn her boss's displeasure (though they tolerated it out of respect for Fang Zhiyi), didn't come. It was Chen Cai who showed up.

Chen Cai looked thoroughly impatient, considering the whole matter completely unnecessary.

"The child made a mistake precisely because your school failed in its duty to educate and supervise!" Chen Cai stuck to his theory, leaving the head teacher utterly bewildered. In the end, the teacher could only smile bitterly, telling him to take the child home for discipline and to compensate the injured classmate.

Chen Cai didn't care about the money; what he wanted was to save face and maintain his dignity.

After all, he didn't have any money anyway.

Fang Yunyun, exhausted after a long day, finally exploded with the long-suppressed anger upon hearing her son had caused trouble requiring compensation.

"Why can't you just go to school properly and stay out of trouble?" Her shrill voice almost pierced Chen Xiaoqun's eardrums. In that moment, she who had once sworn never to lose her temper at her son, never to become like that old man, broke her own vow.

Chen Xiaoqun felt wronged and shocked. Staring at his mother who was now yelling curses, the image of his gentle mother gradually faded from his mind. He looked toward his father, who was lying on the couch watching TV. Chen Cai offered a few perfunctory words of advice. Chen Xiaoqun felt disappointed.

"What's all this? What's going on?" A voice rang out. Fang Zhiyi walked out, rubbing his ear. He hadn't wanted to come out, but his daughter's voice was too penetrating.

In a few steps, he was in front of them. Fang Zhiyi pulled his grandson behind him. "Why are you shouting at the child like that? Don't you know he's just a child? What if you scare him? What kind of mother are you? What's wrong with a child being a little mischievous? For an adult to pick on a child like this, where's your magnanimity?"

Fang Yunyun's mouth hung open, her mind short-circuiting. These words... actually came out of her father's mouth?

"He doesn't understand these things. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Can't you just relax a little?"

Chen Cai listened from the side. Seeing his wife so angry today also struck him as unseemly. But listening to his father-in-law's words, why did they sound so familiar?

Fang Yunyun looked at her son hiding behind her father, making faces at her. Her father's words echoed in her mind, and a wave of bitterness welled up in her heart. She couldn't help but blurt out, "You just favor boys over girls! I get it now, that's the kind of person you are! Now you know how to stand up for your grandson, but what about me? How did you treat me when I was little?"

Fang Zhiyi sneered inwardly. How did I treat you? I worked to earn money, raised you, found time to supervise your studies, sometimes sleeping only two or three hours a day. How else was I supposed to treat you?

"Don't you yell at my grandpa!" Perhaps having found a protector, or perhaps wanting to show off, Chen Xiaoqun stepped in front of Fang Zhiyi.

Fang Zhiyi was very pleased.

Fang Yunyun was furious. Breaking her rule again, she grabbed Chen Xiaoqun and raised her hand high.

Chen Xiaoqun had never been hit before; today was the first time. Facing his enraged mother, he soon began to wail and howl. Fang Zhiyi shouted, "Don't hit my grandson! Take it out on me if you must!" but his body made no substantive move to intervene.

Chen Cai frowned. How had he never noticed before that this woman could be so lacking in grace? Just like a shrew!

He finally stood up. After his son had taken a solid beating, he put a stop to the scene. Assuming the role of head of the household, he directed Fang Zhiyi to take Chen Xiaoqun to bed, while he himself tried to talk Fang Yunyun down.

"I just... I've been under too much pressure lately!" Fang Yunyun also felt terribly wronged.

"I know, I know," Chen Cai said, fully utilizing his talent for smooth talk.

Meanwhile, Fang Zhiyi looked at Chen Xiaoqun with heartache, repeatedly saying things like "she was too harsh." Chen Xiaoqun, his face full of grievance, felt he had finally seen his mother's true colors! She could actually treat him like this.

That night, everyone in the household, except for Fang Zhiyi, went to sleep with different thoughts weighing on their minds.